Unmanned vessel

ABSTRACT

Unmanned marine vessels are disclosed featuring various structural properties. A raised deck leveling with the upper side of the vessel allows for larger compartments below deck and implicates special hatching considerations. A upper appliance support frame is provided for positioning external appliances on board the vessel. Air sucked in by the engine may be used to cool compartments of the vessel. Tie points of the vessel may be position on the deck.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to unmanned vessels and structural aspectsof such vessels relating to the efficient usage of their internal space.The invention also relates to other structural features of such vessels.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Unmanned airplanes have been in service for a number of years, mainlyfor reconnaissance operations. Unmanned ground vehicles and sea vesselsare being developed to minimize risk to crew members and provide for lowcost operations.

The use of unmanned aquatic and marine vessels has been proposed forpurposes such as mapping ad surveillance.

A unique seafaring vessel structure is presented to improve the desiredperformance typical to unmanned vessels.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a schematic isometric description of a boat of the inventionshowing general external shape;

FIG. 1B is a schematic cross sectional view of a vessel of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic isometric view of an appliance support frame of avessel of the invention;

FIG. 3A is a schematic longitudinal cross sectional view of a boat ofthe invention showing compartments;

FIG. 3B is a schematic top side view of a boat of the invention showingappliance support frame and air intake.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Several structural features characterize a boat of the presentinvention. A raised deck is one such feature, further described withreference to FIG. 1A. Boat 20 features raised deck 22 typicallysubstantially leveling with the top of tubes 24. In boats having notubes, the deck of a boat of the invention is substantially level withthe upper edge of the side of the boat, sometimes referred to as thegunwale. In some embodiments of the invention, another visibly prominentfeature of the vessel of the invention is appliance support frame (ASF)26. The ASF is used to attach payload appliances and components, securethem and render them available for use or transportation. In FIG. 1B across section in such a vessel shows that deck 22 is raised tosubstantially the same level as the top of tubes 24, or even above them.Had the boat been manned the deck would be set to a considerably lowerlevel, for example as marked by line 28. Exemplary ASF 26 is shown inmore detail in FIG. 2. Flange 30 has four faces such as face 32 in oneof which two bolts 34 are shown appended which exemplify a host fixingand securing mechanisms that can be applied in order to attach variousappliances to be deployed on the vessel. The ASF of the invention canoccupy a central position on the deck of the vessel and even span thewidth of the deck in some embodiments. The structural and dimensionalfeatures of the ASF which occupies a considerable space on board thevessel are free from limitations relating to the movement of personnelon board the vessel. Payload to be attached to the ASF includestypically reconnaissance appliances, arms, and communications gear. Insome embodiments of the invention the ASF has a void forming an opening36 through which air can be conveyed to the interior of the vessel.

The mere raising of the deck of a vessel of the prior art brings aboutseveral advantageous features with respect to a boat with a low deck.Some such advantages will be described infra. Below the raised deck oneor more secluded compartments are disposed. The entrance door to such acompartment (hereinafter referred to as a hatch door) is typicallylocated in the deck and can form a watertight closure with the deck tokeep water out of the compartment, thus maintaining the increasedsubmersibility characteristics of the vessel of the invention.Typically, a coaming is employed in the entrance to each openedcompartment, to prevent water entering the below—deck compartments.

Vessel Compartments and Hatches

The space under the deck may be compartmented so as to allow thecoexistence of smaller separate spaces such as wholly or partiallysecluded compartments. As can be seen in the schematic longitudinalcross sectional view in FIG. 3A Compartment 50 harbors a water jetpropulsion unit which is powered by a motor located in compartment 52.In this example three more compartments are shown, compartments 4, 56and 58. In some embodiments, specialized compartments for humantransport are allocated under the deck, with dimensional features andsustenance facilities that permit such an undertaking. Facilities forsustaining personnel in a compartment in a deck refer to electricityoutlets, food, water and other necessary elements for sustaining a crewin a compartment within such a boat.

Payload

A boat of the invention can carry a diversity of payloads. Militarilyoriented, for example, stabilized devices such as a weapon system andobservation and recognition systems. Electronic warfare systems and ISR(intelligence surveillance and reconnaissance) are among suchdiversification of payloads. A general purpose payload includes variouselectrical systems for communications, control and navigation.

Some of the payload may be located in below deck compartments, and somemay be attached to the ASF. The ASF typically harbors equipment which isto be exposed to the outside, for example, various weapons, antenna,loudspeakers and optical reconnaissance appliances. In the below deckcompartments, components which are not dependent on outside exposure forproper functioning are typically disposed. As explained above, theautomotive components of the vessel, typically engine, water jet systemand the fuel tanks are typically stowed below deck.

The air intake associated with the action of the motor creates acontinuous flow of air from the outside into the engine. This incomingairflow can be harnessed to cooling components on the vessel. The mostobvious heat emitting object aboard such vessel is the engine. This isexplained with reference to FIG. 3A. Air coming generally in thedirection of arrow 64 enters the opening in ASF 66, and drawn towardsthe engine located in compartment 52, to be partially consumed by theengine. The flow produces a cooling effect that permits the inclusion ofthe vessel's batteries in juxtaposition with the engine, because theconstant removal of heat from the engine diminishes the amount of heataffecting the batteries. In FIG. 3B the same is shown schematically froma top view of a vessel of the invention. Air coming into the void of ASF66 flows generally in the direction of appliance 70, cooling it off.Hatch 72 is shut precluding entrance of air or water to the volume belowthe deck.

Advantages and Features of a Boat of the Invention

A vessel of the invention is submersible to a further extent than mannedboat having equivalent dimensions, due to spatial restrictions linked tothe operation of the crew members within the boat. The higher secludedvolume of the vessel of the invention, out of reach of the surroundingwater is interpreted as providing a lower overall specific weight to theboat, or in other words, such a vessel has a higher buoyancy than a boatof the prior art having a low deck.

Tie points or anchorage points in the boat of the invention can bepositioned virtually randomly on the deck. One or more tie pointsvisibly expressed as hooks or as cable loops, can be located in such amanner as to facilitate: securing the vessel from another vessel,hoisting the vessel for example by crane, or tying the boat to a dockingsite. An externally visible tie point is normally supported bystrengthening members that structurally and mechanically permit force tobe exerted by external devices without risking the vessel's structure.Such strengthening members are internal beams or a cable system. Forexample, if a vessel of the invention is to be hoisted by a crane at onetie point, the location of such a tie point is different than if fourtie point are used. Also different tie points may be disposed on thesame boat for different methods of hoisting and/or capturing anddocking.

1. An unmanned boat comprising: a raised deck; at least one compartment below said deck having at least one hatch at said deck, and wherein said hatch is capable of forming a watertight closure of said compartment; an engine in a compartment under said deck wherein said engine is ventilated through said hatch in said deck.
 2. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 further comprising an appliance support frame.
 3. An unmanned boat as in claim 2 and wherein a void of said appliance support frame forms an opening connecting the outside with at least one compartment under said deck.
 4. An unmanned boat as in claim 2 wherein payload is affixed on said appliance support frame.
 5. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 wherein two hatches both form a water tight closure with at least one compartment below said deck.
 6. An unmanned boat as in claim 3 wherein an engine of said boat consumes air and wherein some of said air taken in through the void of said appliance support frame, and wherein said air is used to cool said engine.
 7. An unmanned boat as in claim 6 wherein an engine of said boat consumes air taken in through the void of said appliance support frame, and wherein said air is used to cool said engine and the batteries of said boat.
 8. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 carrying military oriented payload.
 9. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 carrying general purpose payload.
 10. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 having at least one compartment for sustaining crew members.
 11. An unmanned boat as in claim 1 wherein said boat is adapted for being hoisted at one tie point. 